The Best Meal Ever! | Messy Church, Part 17

The Best Meal Ever! | Messy Church, Part 17

Lord’s Supper

Eucharist

Communion

4 ways for us to better understand communion:

1. Communion is a family affair

1 Corinthians 11:17-20

But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.

“when you come together as a church”

“when you come together at the church”

What is the church?

The church is a family of sinners who gather for worship, scatter on mission, and do it all for God’s glory.

Why do we gather?

We gather to worship Christ by singing His praise, studying His Word, encouraging one another in fellowship, and partaking in the sacraments.

1 Corinthians 11:17

“…when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you.”

2. Communion is a unified celebration

1 Corinthians 11:21-22

For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

Dysfunctional

Divided

The church was divided as they were receiving Communion.

Romans 15:7

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

3. Communion is more than just a meal

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood”

4. Communion is a tangible gift

1 Corinthians 11:27-29

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

“eat” and “drink”

Instructions:

1 Corinthians 11:27-34

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

What NOT to do:

Receive Communion in an unworthy manner (v. 27)

Receive Communion without discerning the body (v. 29)

Go through the motions

Say one thing with our lips, live another way with our lives

What to do:

– Examine yourself (v. 28)

– Discern relationships around you (v. 29)

– Wait for one another (v. 33)

– Feel the weight of Scripture (v. 29-30)

As we receive Communion:

1. Look up

2. Look in

3. Look around

4. Look back

5. Look ahead